Emergency Escape Slide Falls from Plane, Crashes into AZ Yard

The private plane was at 2,800 feet altitude when the crew was told the right-side, over-the-wing emergency slide had deployed, Ian Gregor of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement to ABC News.

The incident occurred as Atlas Air crew members were making their final approach to Sky Harbor airport in Phoenix, Gregor said. There were 17 crew members and staff on board, but no passengers.

No injuries were reported, Nikolas Rasheta of the Mesa Police Department said in a statement to ABC News. The crew landed the plane safely.

However, the detached escape slide fell into the yard of a Mesa resident.

Andrea Self, 31, told ABC News she was in her home when she heard a loud bang and felt the house shake.

She went outside and saw a large, silver, tarp-like object with red arrows. When she smelled sulfur, she called police. The police notified the FAA.

Self said only a tree was damaged by the plane part and she’s happy the slide fell where it did and not in the nearby park where there are a lot of pedestrians.

“It fell exactly where it needed to,” she said.

The FAA is investigating why the slide deployed. Atlas Air said they plan to pay for the damage and are also investigating.